Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-09
TIE SWAPPING TURTLE.
A WeIl-K nOwn Reptile Whose History
is LIIfIa EnderAfOod.

&c. Few sslss in tie Scientific Americsu.I
Although the snapper" or snapping
turtle, is a well-knOwn reptile, its life his
history, owing to its secluded habits, is as
a general rule but little understood.
II has a long geographical range, being
found from Canada to Ecuador, ;. A., but
il wanting on the Pacific slope OF the
United States.
During the month OF April the snappers
quit their winter dOrmltorieS, which arc
merely mud.holes at the bottom OF some
marsh or pond. 4 month or so later the
females search for a suitable place in which
10 deposit their eggs. This is not in the
water, but upon the bank where the soil is
sandy or soft and more or less dry and eX-
posed 10 the sun. They Will some
times travel quarter OF mile
or more away from the water 10
find suitable sandy spot. These journeys
are generally made on rainy or cloudy
days or during the night. The holes in
which the eggs are deposited are scOOped
out with the turtles hind feet only, almost
exactly in the same manner as our box or
land turtle. While digging the turtle per-
forms, az il were, a clumsy and slow waltz.
The holes are eXcayated only to the
depth TO which the leg and foot OF the
turtle is able TO reach. The num-
Der Of eggs deposited depends upon
the size and age OF the snapper. From ti-
teen 10 nearly double that number have
been counted. After the eggs are LAID they
are carefully covered with sand, and the
hole is filed and leyeled so perfectly that II
cannot be recognized. The eggs vary IN
size from one and one eighth to one and one
half inches in length. They are somewhat
round or glObular in form, and are covered
with i tough, leathery skin.
The little snappers escape from the eggs
and dig their way out Of the sand from the
middle OF June 10 the first OF August, and
Immediately, by direct line, seek the near
est body OF water. Instinct seems 10 tell
them the correct route, for they have.
believe, never been found travelling IN the
wrong direction, although in some in.
stances the water was quite distance OF
and entirely hidden from view.
Great numbers Of swapping turtles are
sold in our markets. They are served upon
the tables OF our hotels and eating houses
i'm the form OF soup or stewed snapper,
but, believe, in no other way. For my
part, do not consider it q savory dish, and
always omit 1t from my bills Of fare.
wOdld suggest snapper salad instead OF
lobster salad, as the latter valuable animal
is becoming so rapidly eXterminated.
Vinegar aud high seasoning might destroy
that somewhat rank ami musky flavor
winch the snapper generally possesses.
| have noticed on several occasions the
mode practlced by some farmer. OF "fat-
tening' snappers previous to killing them
for the pot. After they are caught they are
kept for some weeks in tank or hogshead
containing sour milk, kitchen Stops, &C.,
which is kept for feeding the hogs. 1t not
natural that such unsayofy surroundings
should produce much fat, and 1t certainly
does NOT add to the health and happiness OF
the captive turtle.
The snapper has a voraciOus appetite.
Everything in the animal line that he Is
able TO master is included in his menu. To
the breeder Of. ducks and geese he is a
great pest. Rising stealthily beneath
the swimming duckling, he seizes
1t by the feet, pulls it under the
water and drags 1t of to some conve-
nient spot, where it is deyOured. The
snapper also has the habit OF lying IN wait
for its prey in some secluded hole under
the bank, and when fish, young muskrat,
eel, or frog passes its retreat, he darts out
his long neck, and, simultaneously throw
ing his whole body forward, catches in his
jaws the unsuspeeting victim. Although
carniverous 10 habits, the snapper has been
known 10 pull and eat berries from bushes
which oyerhung the water.
The swapping turtle is remarkably tena-
cious OF life. It's head, though completely
severed from IFS body, will seize with its
jaws stick or other object that Is placed
near enough for 1t TO grasp. Indeed, have
seen head thai was able to use its Jaws
the day after II had been detached from It's
body.
The she'll or carapax OF the snapper adult
measures from nineteen inches 20 over two
feet in length. DR.. de KAY gives four feet
as the maximum size, but have never
known one so large. An old individual
caught in the Schuylkill river above Phila-
delnhia weighed twenty-four pounds,
which was considered very large for that
locality.
There are two species OF snapping-turtles
found In the United States the one here
described (Cheiyira serpentiae) and the
great-headed or alligaior.snspper (Hdero-
rheiys idcertiRd). found only In the Mis-
'issippi river, It's tributary streams, and
The rivers OF the Gull States. The latter
IAN be distinguished by its enormously
arge head, which Is covered with smooth,
'ynmetriesl plates, while the head Of the
,omWpn snapper Is covered with rather
'ougH but soft skin.